Open-bench horsecar, probably built by J. G. Brill Co.,
Philadelphia, PA, on the Congress Street line at Union Station.
Union Station was built at the Crn. of Congress and St. John
Streets by the Maine Central Railroad opened for
business late in June 1886. The Portland Railroad
extended the horsecar line from Longfellow Square
to Railroad Square and St. John Street in 1887.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_004
Photo and research resources used in this blog post are courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum's Library; specifically from the O. R. Cummings Collection and Phil Morse (PWM), and O. R. Cummings books, "Portland Railroad" Part 1, 1957, and Part 2, 1959.
Monument Square in Portland, Maine was the hub for all the early horse-drawn and electric railway systems running into and out of Portland. This blog features the high-speed, luxury interurban, No. 14, Narcissus of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) that is now being restored at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The Narcissus and nine other Maine vehicles used on electric railways have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Though we are deep into the research of information and materials related to the PLI and the Narcissus for use in creating the interpretation portion of the Narcissus project, it's too hard to resist posting other interesting electric railway tidbits from Maine's transportation history. With that in mind, from 1914 until 1933, the Narcissus, as a PLI interurban, did operate into and out of Monument Square to pick up and discharge passengers. As we approach Maine's Bicentennial year (2020), this blog will release posts that relate to many electric railway operations throughout the State of Maine. One of the first in the series will be a more comprehensive look at the Portland Railroad. The 470 Railroad Club in Portland will host a public presentation on the history of the Portland Railroad beginning at 7 p.m. on October 17, 2018, at 75 State Street, Portland, Maine; the entrance to the meeting hall is on Gray Street between Gray & Park Street.
This blog post is one that will be a bit of a teaser for that presentation at the 470 Railroad Club next month and will show a few images of the Portland Railroad system along Congress Street from Monument Square to Union Station.
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Maine Bicentennial - A History of Public Transportation 1860-1941
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Westbrook, Gorham & So. Windham Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Forest Avenue to Riverton Park Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - South Portland & Cape Elizabeth Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Munjoy Hill Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad: Trolleys Through Scarborough, Maine
Horse-drawn trolleys were known as horsecars during the
horsecar transportation era in Portland, Maine 1863-1896.
Here a horsecar travels along Congress Street as
it enters what was City Hall Market prior to the building being
raised in 1888. What we know as the Victory Monument
in Monument Square was in place by 1891, the same year
the electrification of Portland Railroad trolley lines began.
Electrification of Congress Street for use during the
electric trolley-car era in Portland (1891-1941) was completed
by late October 1895.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_098
At Union Station. Take a little bit longer and look at the train station
canopy in the background. Does it look familiar? In recent
winters have you gone ice skating at the rink at
Thompson's Point? Over this past couple of summers
have you attended outdoor concerts at
Thompson's Point in Portland? Scroll through the images
in the Thompson's Point website and you will see
the metal canopy that was originally connected
to Union Station and protected the trains and
passengers from the elements. Passengers like
Theodore Roosevelt on a number of occasions. including
on August 31, 1916, when he traveled to Portland
to then board a Portland-Lewiston Interurban to travel to
Lewiston.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_003
Here is an image of President Theodore Roosevelt's
train at Union Station in August 1902. The
image is on eBay. The canopy seen in the photo is
the same canopy that is at Thompson's Pont!
Open-bench horsecar, probably built by J. G. Brill Co.,
Philadelphia, PA, on the Congress Street line, believed to be
on St. John Street in front of Union Station. The destination
sign on the front of the roof is marked, Fort Allen Park,
which is at Eastern Promenade on Munjoy Hill.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_006
Horsecar on Congress Street as it passes by the turn for
Middle Street (the Middle St. area is now an open public
space for pedestrians) in order to enter Monument Square on
is on its way to Munjoy Hill.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_092
Here a horsecar enters Congress Street from Middle Street
at Monument Square. Compare to the image above,
note the changes in the number of
trees and in the buildings along Congress Street.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_093
At what is now 585 Congress Street, a horsecar travels
towards Union Station.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_090
A team of eight horses pulling workers in track work cars
in front of what is now the Starbucks at 594 Congress
Street. Free Street passes behind the building
seen in the background.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_052
Horsecar on Congress Street at Longfellow Square.
Here is a Longfellow Square tidbit that kinda, sorta, has
a fun/interesting Narcissus side story. Theodore Roosevelt
was a passenger on the Narcissus from Lewiston to Portland
on August 18, 1914. Not long after Theodore Roosevelt
passed away in January 1919, the Theodore Roosevelt
International Highway came into existence. The 4,060-
mile-long highway starts at Longfellow Square in Portland,
Maine and basically is now what we know as Route 302
(Roosevelt Trail) and has a stretch in Ontario, Canada, and
travels all the way through the states bordering Canada
to Portland, Oregon.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_038
A team of eight horses was needed to pull this horsecar as it
travels up Congress Street past the Victory Monument at
Monument Square is on its way to Munjoy Hill.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_094
By 1890, the year prior to the start of electrification of the Portland Railroad divisions, there were fifty horsecars, both open and closed, on the roster along with two-hundred and twenty-five horses that were owned.
The transition from horsecar to electric cars did take some
time. The Westbrook line of the Portland Railroad was
electrified before the Munjoy Hill section in Portland.
Most of the early electric cars for Westbrook operations
were kept in the Beckett Street carbarn on Munjoy Hill.
Here is an image of horses towing an electrified
trolley from the Beckett Street carbarn on its way to
Monument Square. Monument was electrified and
the Westbrook-bound car could then be used on the Westbrook
line. This horse transfer lasted until 1895.
Courtesy of O.R. Cummings book,
"Portland Railroad - Part 1" April 1957.
Folks at the Portland Railroad (PRR) ticket office at
Monument Square await their electric trolley bound for
any number of different destinations; Old Orchard Beach,
Saco, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Gorham,
Westbrook, South Windham, Yarmouth, Falmouth, and
connections through the greater Portland area in addition to
the PRR connects to other trolley lines for folks to travel to
Lewiston, Augusta, Waterville, and many other communities
connected to those cities.
At its height, the PRR had 100 miles of track owned and 217
passenger trolley cars, employing more than 500 persons,
including 133 motormen and 133 conductors.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_133
Monument Square circa 1910 - Congress Street to the left
heading up to Munjoy Hill, with Middle Street to the
right taking passengers to the Grand Trunk Railroad
station or other trolley destinations served by the PRR.
Image from a print in PWM Collection.
Congress Street was a major attraction for folks that wanted
to go shopping. There were offerings in the city that were
not available anywhere in local outlying
communities. Trolleys were the most reliable and convenient
way to travel to Portland in the late 19th and early 20th
century.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_081
Congress Street intersection for High Street and Free Street.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_054
Longfellow Square - and automobiles.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_047
prevalent over the years. Trolley ridership had been in decline
for many years leading up to the time this photo was taken.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_016
Monument Square with the Federal Street track in the
foreground - center and Middles Street to the far left
corner. Abandonment of various lines of the PRR began
in 1931, though a reduction in equipment had been
steady throughout the twenties. The Congress Street line
of the PRR trolley cars came to end on Christmas Eve
1940 and the remaining four trolley car lines
of the PRR came to a close in May 1941.
foreground - center and Middles Street to the far left
corner. Abandonment of various lines of the PRR began
in 1931, though a reduction in equipment had been
steady throughout the twenties. The Congress Street line
of the PRR trolley cars came to end on Christmas Eve
1940 and the remaining four trolley car lines
of the PRR came to a close in May 1941.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_32_187
We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 100+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down this post and find the one that best fits your position. Fund 816 to help with the restoration and Fund 817 (PLI Education-Interpretation programs ) should be noted when making a donation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here for the post that has the short virtual 3-D video of the digital model of the Narcissus, with components added to the file from earlier this year (the gold leaf file had not been added yet).
Restoration work continues on the Narcissus. The Narcissus is more than 110 years old now and has so many incredible stories to share. The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one of those incredible stories.
The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.
Independent book publisher, Phil Morse, holding
the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
the Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive
Seashore Trolley Museum Promo Video
The paperback edition of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride can be purchased online through the Seashore Trolley Museum's store website. Books purchased through the Museum's website directly benefit the Museum and the Narcissus project.
Click Here to go to the Museum Store web page to order online
Click Here to go to the Amazon page to order the ebook or audiobook online
Paperback books are available at these local bookstores in Maine:
Center for Maine Crafts, West Gardiner Service Plaza
The Book Review, Falmouth
The Bookworm, Gorham
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride
by Jean M. Flahive
Illustrations by Amy J. Gagnon
Listen to a 2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook
Millie Thayer is a headstrong farmer's daughter who chases her dreams in a way you would expect a little girl nicknamed "Spitfire" would-running full tilt and with her eyes on the stars. Dreaming of leaving the farm life, working in the city, and fighting for women's right to vote, Millie imagines flying away on a magic carpet. One day, that flying carpet shows up in the form of an electric trolley that cuts across her farm. A fortune-teller predicts that Millie's path will cross that of someone famous. Suddenly, she finds herself caught up in events that shake the nation, Maine, and her family. Despairing that her dreams may be shattered, Millie learns, in an unexpected way, that dreams can be shared.
A resource for teachers
Companion curriculum State-standard-based units,
vocabulary, and reading activities for use in grades 3-8
are available online as downloadable resources through
Seashore Trolley Museum's website
www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson units in Social Studies and ELA that were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans for use in grades 6, 7, and 8 are easily adapted for use in grades 3-5. Vocabulary and Reading activities for grades 3-8 along with the eight lesson plan units are available free and may be downloaded through Seashore Trolley Museum's website www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Go to the Teacher Resource Page in the pull-down for more details.
A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube
Award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive
Please Consider a Donation to the Narcissus Project to help us tell the incredible story of the Narcissus through the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project.
Here is an example of how donations to the Narcissus Project now will help with the interpretation portion of the project. The interpretation programming will include exhibits, displays, and education programming. In 2019, through generous donations to the Narcissus Project, we were able to conserve, replicate, and have high resolutions digital image files made of the original, 1910, 28.5-foot long, surveyor map of the elevation and grade of the 30-mile private right-of-way of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (Portland-Lewiston Interurban) Click Here
Thank You!
the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine on August 18, 1914.
Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society
The Narcissus as the Sabattus Lake Diner in Sabattus, Maine,
circa 1940. Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell
Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum
L. Henri Vallee (right) and family members in the
Narcissus, when it was Vallee's summer camp in
Sabattus, Maine circa 1958. Photo courtesy Daniel Vallee
Inside the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Narcissus is in the midst of major work as we strive to complete its restoration. We are now planning the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project. Donations to the Narcissus Project may be used in the future to help tell the incredible 100-plus-year-old story of the Narcissus. Your donation to the Narcissus is helping to make the dream of the project's success, a reality.
See below for Donation options -
It starts with YOU
Your Donation Matters
Make a Donation TODAY
Please Help the Narcissus.
Donation Options to Help the Narcissus Project:
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society
is the 501c3 organization that owns and operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, and the National Streetcar
Museum in Lowell (MA).
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society registered with the IRS (EIN# 01-0244457) and was incorporated in Maine in 1941.
Check or Money Order ***** should be made payable to:
New England Electric Railway Historical Society
In the memo: for a donation to the Interpretation programming
please write: PLI Education Fund 817
For a donation to help with the restoration write: Narcissus Fund 816
Mail to: Seashore Trolley Museum
P. O. Box A
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Credit Card ***** donations can be one-time donations or you
may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card
automatically on a monthly basis. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3.
Online Donations - may be made by using a Credit Card:
Click Here to make an online donation through the Museum's website - When at the Donation page: Fill in donor info, etc., when at "To which fund are you donating? Scroll down to "Other" and type in: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can use email: finance@trolleymuseum.org and in the message box write:
For "Narcissus Fund 816" - if supporting the restoration
For "PLI Education Fund 817" - if supporting Interpretation programs
Donation of Securities ***** We also accept donations of
securities. You can contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3,
for brokerage account information for accepting donated securities.
BONUS ***** If you work for a company/corporation that will
"match" an employee's donation to an approved 501c3 non-profit
educational organization, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your employer so that your donation is matched :)
Questions? ***** Please contact Narcissus project sponsor:
Phil Morse, narcissus@gmail.org or call 207-985-9723 - cell.
Thank You :)
Thank You for our Current Funding Partners
* 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation - 2020/2018 - Major Gift, 2017/2014 Matching Grants
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Mass Bay RRE - 2018 Railroad Preservation Grant
* Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) - Staff & Alumni - Matching Grant Challenge 2014
* New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Kennebunkport, ME) - Member Donations
* Amherst Railway Society - 2015 Heritage Grant
* National Railway Historical Society - 2016 & 2015 Heritage Preservation Grants
* Enterprise Holding Foundation - 2015 Community Grant
* Theodore Roosevelt Association - Member Donations
* John Libby Family Association and Member Donations
* The Conley Family - In Memory of Scott Libbey 2018/2017/2016/2015
* The W. S. Libbey Family - Awalt, Conley, Graf, Holman, Libbey, McAvoy, McLaughlin, Meldrum, O'Halloran, Salto, - 2018/2017
* The Hughes Family 2017/2016/2010
* New Gloucester Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Public Library Association - Pat Barter Speaker Series
* Scarborough Historical Society - PRR/PLI
* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation
* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations
* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations
* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016
The Narcissus, with interior back-lit, stained glass windows is majestic.
Make a donation today to help restore the interior of this Maine gem.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track! Once restored,
you will be able to ride in luxury on this National Register Treasure at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
PWM photo
Please Consider Making a Donation to the project of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus. We are currently raising funds to advance the restoration and to tell the incredible story of this Maine gem.
Various News stories during the summer of 2015 about the
Narcissus and its connection to Theodore Roosevelt. TR
was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.
Patricia Pierce Erikson photo
The Narcissus - July 31, 2015. Make a donation today.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track!
Once restored, you will be able to ride in luxury on this
National Historic Treasure at
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